Here’s how to turn your ho-hum layover at DTW into a fantastic time in Ypsi.
Detroit Metro Airport is a major Delta Airlines hub, which means that you can very easily find yourself with some serious time to kill there between flights. Before you resign yourself to wandering aimlessly between terminals, why not spend a couple of hours getting to know a little pocket of Michigan you might otherwise miss?
Roughly 20 minutes from DTW Airport, Downtown Ypsilanti packs an impressive amount into a few charming, walkable blocks. Michigan Avenue runs right through the middle, lined with independent restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and quirky local businesses—and one of the area’s oldest cannabis dispensaries sits in the heart of town.
It all adds up to Ypsi (as the locals call it) being particularly well-suited to a cannabis-friendly layover. You can partake in the plant, grab a coffee or a meal, browse local shops, and even play indoor mini golf, all without leaving Downtown.
In this article:
✈️ Layover game plans at a glance
✈️ Getting from DTW to Ypsi and back
✈️ First stop: Herbal Solutions cannabis dispensary
✈️ Things to do around Michigan Avenue
✈️ Where to get coffee and breakfast
✈️ Where to eat in Downtown Ypsi
✈️ Special events in Ypsilanti
✈️ What to know about cannabis in Michigan
Layover Game Plans at a Glance
Downtown Ypsilanti is about 20 minutes from Detroit Metro Airport, although actual travel time can vary with traffic. Before you leave the airport, check to see if there are any backups on your route. If you need to reevaluate your plan and stay on site, do so.
Short Layover (under 3 hours): Don’t leave the airport.
For layovers shorter than three hours, we recommend staying at the airport. If you leave, you’re risking unexpected traffic, transit backups, and long TSA lines that could put you in danger of missing your next flight.
The fun thing about Detroit Metro Airport is that don’t need to leave the airport to enjoy your time! If your edibles are still in effect when you touch down, you’ll love the underground Light Tunnel. This moving walkway runs beneath the terminal and active taxiways, with an artistic display of LED lights set against an original musical score. The water feature in McNamara Terminal is a great place to waste time, too. Make a wish, toss a coin, and good things will happen; the money is collected and donated to nonprofits in need.
Longer layover (3 hours or more): Explore Downtown Ypsilanti.
If you have three or more hours between flights, grab a rideshare to Downtown Ypsilanti. Visit a dispensary, eat some food, meander around town, shop, and enjoy the scenery. Then head back to DTW with plenty of time to get back on board before wheels-up.
Getting From DTW to Ypsi and Back
For most travelers on a layover, a rideshare like Uber or Lyft is the simplest option. You can meet your driver at one of two designated locations on airport grounds: inside the Big Blue Deck, Level 1, and in McNamara Parking Garage, Level 4.
Set your destination to Herbal Solutions in Downtown Ypsilanti. Once you’re there, you can go everywhere else on foot (even if you have a rolling suitcase!).
First Stop: Herbal Solutions Cannabis Dispensary
Set right in the center of town, Herbal Solutions (124 Michigan Ave.) has some serious old-school cannabis credentials. The store has been part of the local community since 2010, when it was a medical dispensary. It’s even a multiple High Times Cannabis Cup award winner.
The space is modestly sized, but the inventory packs a punch. The selection spans flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, vapes, and topicals, with products available at virtually any price point. We love that Herbal Solutions sells its flower deli-style, so you can see and smell the product before you buy. Your budtender will weigh it out and package it right in front of you, so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
Things to Do Around Michigan Avenue
One of the best parts of this layover is that after you leave the dispo, you don’t need to get back into the car to find something interesting to do. Lots of entertaining stops are within a block or two of Herbal Solutions.
Play mini golf and win prizes at Putt-R-Round Mini Golf & Putt Arcade.
Putt-R-Round Mini Golf & Putt Arcade (130 W. Michigan Ave.) is a wonderfully unexpected entertainment destination. The indoor attraction has an 18-hole mini-golf course, arcade games, and more. Hone your skills, earn tickets, and you might even leave with a carnival prize as a souvenir.
Get lost in The Rocket.
Fair warning: If you walk into The Rocket (122 W. Michigan Ave.) with the munchies, you might have to buy an extra carry-on to fit all of your purchases! Part candy shop, part novelty store, and part nostalgia trip, The Rocket carries bulk candy, retro sweets, toys, books, gifts, Michigan souvenirs, and all kinds of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them. It’s a true Ypsi institution.
Browse World of Rocks.
You’ll never look at rocks the same way again after a visit to World of Rocks (32 N. Huron St.). This shop isn’t just a store; it’s a veritable museum showcasing crystals, stones, geodes, fossils, and meteorites. There’s even an interactive microscope that lets visitors get an up-close look at tiny specimens.
Go bookstore hopping.
If the smell of bookstores makes your heart go aflutter, get ready to swoon in Ypsi. Book Love Bar (110 W. Michigan Ave.) is a lovely independent bookstore with a curated selection of new books and a literary-lounge feel. A couple of blocks west, the Black-owned Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center (214 W. Michigan Ave.) hosts events and emphasizes books, culture, and conversation.
Walk towards the river.
Riverside Park (2 E. Cross St.) sits along the Huron River between Downtown and Depot Town, making it a natural route for stretching your legs and seeing more of the area. Continue across the river and you’ll reach Depot Town, another compact collection of independent restaurants and shops.
Where to Get Coffee and Breakfast
If you land at DTW early in the day, downtown Ypsi has several places where you can start your layover with caffeine and light bites.
Bird Dog Baking (100 W. Michigan Ave.) specializes in naturally leavened sourdough breads and grain-forward pastries, along with a stellar coffee bar.
A few blocks north, Café Liv (202 N. Washington St.) offers espresso drinks, brewed coffee, and pastries in a bright, plant-filled space where you can linger over a latte if your layover schedule isn’t particularly rushed.
To get a sense of the Ypsi community spirit, make a stop at Bridge Community Cafe (217 W. Michigan Ave.). The space is a popular hangout for students from Eastern Michigan University, and it was even founded by an EMU alum.
Where to Eat in Downtown Ypsi
If you’re hungry for something more substantial, Downtown Ypsi offers an unexpected mix of international restaurants. .
For Latin food in a casual atmosphere, Encuentro Latino Restaurant (228 W. Michigan Ave.) is a family-run restaurant specializing in Guatemalan food and Central American comfort dishes.
A five-minute walk from Herbal Solutions, Mama Pizza (5 N. Hamilton St.) focuses on a unique fusion of Italian and Indian cuisine; think mango chutney paneer pizza, chicken tikka masala pizza, or mac and cheese dosa.
C.King & Co. Cafe (101 W. Michigan Ave.) serves up pizza and salad alongside a welcoming vibe and a cozy setting. The weekend brunch menu is a local favorite, with specialties like double-baked French toast and eggs Benedict with smoked fish.
And if dessert sounds better than another meal, Cold Comfort Ice Cream (10 N. Washington St.) serves its frozen treats from a tucked-away walk-up window. Hours change seasonally, so check the schedule before you head over.
Special Events in Ypsilanti
For a relatively small city, Ypsi has a busy calendar of festivals, art walks, markets, live music, and neighborhood celebrations. You may get lucky enough to have one coincide with your DTW layover.
Held on the first Friday of the month, First Fridays Ypsilanti is a free arts and culture walk that brings art, music, and other programming to businesses around the city. The event has been running for more than a decade.
Seasonal celebrations from Ypsi Pride to Juneteeth to Halloween also bring the community together, and the Ypsi Food Fest and YpsiTasty are a dream for food fans. Before you settle on what to do during your layover, check Ypsi Real’s events calendar and the City of Ypsilanti calendar shortly before your trip.
If an event is happening downtown, build extra time into your itinerary. Street closures, crowds, and rideshare pickup times can cause delays.
What to Know About Cannabis in Michigan
Michiganders voted to legalize recreational cannabis in 2018, making the state one of the most established regulated markets in the country. The program is overseen by the state Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), and the laws are fairly straightforward. Here’s what you need to know before you travel.
You must be 21 or older to purchase and consume. Adults 21 and up can legally purchase and possess recreational cannabis in Michigan. You don’t need to be a Michigan resident or have a medical cannabis card to shop at a licensed adult-use dispensary. Just bring a valid government-issued ID.
Credit cards are not accepted. Since cannabis is not (yet) federally legal, dispensaries in Michigan do not accept credit cards. Most dispensaries take cash and debit cards and/or have an ATM on site.
Know the limits. Adults can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis outside the home, with no more than 15 grams of that amount in the form of cannabis concentrate. Michigan retailers are also prohibited from selling more than 2.5 ounces, including no more than 15 grams of concentrate, in a single transaction.
Public consumption is not allowed. While Michigan prohibits consuming cannabis in public, private property owners can choose to allow it or not. Be a respectful traveler, and always check the rules before sparking up.
Don’t drive after consuming. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal in Michigan, including operating cars, boats, and off-road recreational vehicles.
Don’t cross state lines with it. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, so bringing your Michigan purchases across state lines could get you in trouble.
Cannabis use is not legal at the airport. Cannabis use is prohibited in areas under federal jurisdiction, including airports.
What are your favorite spots in Downtown Ypsi? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
